The future of Holywell is in the hands of its residents, according to the town council.

A public meeting will take place next week giving people the chance to have their say on what they would like to see happen in the town in the coming years.

It will take place at 6pm on Wednesday, January 14, at St Peter’s Church, Rosehill, and will feature a panel made up of one representative from each ward – Holywell Mayor Ted Palmer, deputy Mayor Phil McGarry, Cllr Barry Scragg and Cllr Ed Watkinson.

Reverend Aidan Coleman will chair the meeting.

Cllr Palmer hopes to see a good turn out on the evening and believes it could be key to planning a positive future for Holywell.

He said: “We want to try and create a more positive attitude in the town and hopefully by meeting with the public we can engage with them and find out more about their feelings and ideas.

“At the end of the day it’s their town and we should be interacting more with them.”

Cllr Palmer says that one thing residents have voiced concern over is shop rent rates within the town centre.

“This particular issue is out of our hands but we have and will continue to make representations to the council.

“We will fight the same way as we did with the leisure centre – if we can fight for it we will do and we won’t give up.”

Town clerk Colin Pierce he hopes to use the meeting as a chance to explain to residents what the town council is responsible for, and what is in the hands of the local authority.

“It will be good for the town to know public feeling on issues such as car parking. There are strong views at the moment that charges should be reinstated. This is the chance for people to let us know what they think. Although we don’t have the final say we do have power to try and influence the county council’s decision.

“Another thing we may ask is do you want more events in Holywell? Or do you want something else? It is about raising the profile of Holywell Town Council as well. People don’t realise a lot of the time that it is us that organise and host events or put things on.”